brokenpurplecrayon

There’s a lot of social media outlets out there. You can reconnect with just about anyone from your past, provided they’re on Facebook, or (shudder to mention it) MySpace.  You can share where you are on Foursquare, what you’re thinking on Twitter, and what you’re watching or listening to on GetGlue. Your social media influence is even measured, by Klout.

Gone are the days when lonely teens worried they were they only person in the entire universe who were heartbroken… now they just check in to social media & can find out if “heartbreak” is trending on any of the sites.

I read a quote that said this latest generation “is what it shares.” I think that speaks volumes – but of what?  I’m torn. I’m not sure that all that drama and angst that goes on inside should be tossed about, willy nilly for all to see, and yet, what do many of us “older users” (yours truly included) do when we need to process our growing pains and work through those sticky points in life? Blogs, chat rooms, message boards.  Sometimes we hide behind the anonymity of the internet, sometimes we don’t.

The younger generation seems less inclined to hide behind that anonymity so far… sure they pick a nickname sometimes, but that really becomes their online identity across many sites & realms. They post their pictures (please, think before posting some of those – seriously!!), they leave trails of virtual breadcrumbs on social media – they’re not hiding who or where they are.

I was amazed at how interconnected the world seemed to be becoming with the introduction & fast growing popularity of the internet. I mused to myself, “Wow, one day we truly will be a global community.”  I had no idea this amazing technology would be part of it.  I’m learning to find my place in it.

Some of my friends have definitely found their place – the Blue Jean Gourmet won a Houston Web Award for Best Food Blog, and her partner has several web presences including a blog (or two) and a great newsletter on how to Stop the Crap in our lives.